Museum professionals in both large and small institutions may sometimes feel isolated, lost in the bureaucracy, or unsure of how to take the next steps in their career paths. In preparation for a presentation at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Alliance of Museums, a group of alumni from the Getty Leadership Institute?s NextGen program is exploring the concept of horizontal mentoring as a solution to these problems. We would like to hear from you regarding your experiences with horizontal mentors.
Quick survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DNHB2N8 What is a horizontal mentor? A mentor is often thought of as someone with great knowledge and significant experience in his/ her specialty who takes on an apprentice to train and bring up in the profession. This traditional form of vertical mentoring is becoming less common as more and more new and mid-level professionals seek out peer or horizontal mentors. Different from peer or horizontal networks (like Linked In), horizontal mentors are those professional peers to whom one can turn for deeper and more frank discussions, whose advice and judgment about professional and career questions one seeks and values, and whom one can call on for support. Thank you for any time you have to weigh in on this topic. Best, Dana
